Compare towns
Hingham vs West Fairlee vs Cohasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hingham | West Fairlee | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
711Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.9±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$199,306±$53kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 296% above U.S. |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,755±$399Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,210Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 282 in MA | — | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Rivendell Interstate School District | Cohasset |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.